If you’re a seasoned pro when it comes to backyard and around-the-house battles using foam-ammo guns, you’ll already know how the weapon in your hands can be the difference between success and failure. Too slow to reload and you may have already taken a foam dart to the chest; too inaccurate and you may as well be shooting blind. If you’re looking for a tick in the W column, it’s worth making sure you’re stepping onto the field armed with one of the best Nerf guns available.
For many, the best choice for the battlefield is an automatic weapon made by Nerf. Below we’ll look at some of the reasons behind this and the many aspects to consider when finding the best automatic nerf gun for you.
Ask anyone about recreation foam gun fighting and very quickly the name Nerf will come up. Why? Well, this company has been around for decades and consistently produces the best toy guns available. The rugged build-quality and advanced design have kept Nerf top of the pile and a search of their range of products will show impressive product reviews across the board. While their prices may be higher than off-brand options, with Nerf, you are often paying for the quality you get.
The reasons it’s an advantage to have an automatic blaster in your hands over a manual option are pretty obvious. For starters, the best motorized Nerf guns require no pumping, cocking or manual function in the process of firing which could save you those potentially crucial few battle-winning seconds when fighting against someone who’s working manually. Other general benefits include models that boast, on the whole, larger capacities, more rapid firing and more advanced designs. Many of these options would be technically considered semi-automatic — they fire a single bullet every time you pull the trigger, but you don’t have to pull back a pump action. This still gives you a crucial advantage over traditional Nerf guns. Some are motorized, while others use a spring-loaded system.
Many toy companies, including Hasbro who currently own the Nerf to brand, are moving towards more environmentally friendly packaging. This is especially relevant for online sales where you aren’t experiencing a shop-window effect and don’t need your eyes, or your kids, to be drawn to the bright outer packaging to entice the sale. And while the package that arrives at your door may appear brown and boring, what’s inside is exactly the same and much better for the environment.
It’s important to note that Nerf guns all have accompanying age advisories. While these foam dart guns are great fun for adults, in the wrong hands they could still cause potential damage if aimed in the wrong direction. Be sure to check the advisory age rating for the gun you intend to purchase.
Ready to find the best automatic Nerf gun for you? Check out the 19 below enjoy some epic around-the-house or backyard action with your friends and family.
BEST OVERALL
Sitting top of the pile is the Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K. Available in blue or red, this fully motorized blaster delivers precision and rapid firing, ideal for those high-pressure, win-or-lose moments. The design can be used in one hand but works most comfortably in two. It includes an easy-load hopper for the 100 foam rounds supplied with the blaster. To function, the blaster requires six D-type batteries. Additionally, the Rival Nemesis is available in simple brown packaging for an option that is more environmentally friendly and easier to open.
Buy: Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K
BEST OFF-BRAND
While it’s not technically made by Nerf, that doesn’t mean the Dart Zone Super Commando Gatling Blaster doesn’t deliver a Nerf-like blaster experience. It comes at a great price, too. This fully-automated Gatling gun uses six AA batteries (which aren’t included) to fire up to 18 darts in under 18 seconds. The gun comes with two 18-round ammo belts, three foam targets and 36 darts. This is a great option for kids over the age of eight and adults, too.
Buy: Dart Zone Super Commando Gatling Blaster $34.99
BEST BUDGET
If you’re looking for a blaster sporting the Nerf logo at a budget-friendly price, the Evader Modulus Nerf Motorized Light-Up Toy Blaster could be the answer. It sports a stand-out design that lights up, making it an ideal answer to low-light environments. The blaster’s shell is also made from clear plastic for a stealthier look. It’s supplied with 12 darts and includes a light-up barrel extension which gives you an amount of personal customization in your blaster.
Buy: Evader Modulus Nerf Motorized Light-Up Toy Blaster $39.99
BEST ON-THE-GO LOADING
If your battles are going to be long and arduous, it’s worth considering a blaster option that can be loaded on the go without difficulty. By including an automatic back-loading port, the Infinus Nerf N-Strike Elite Toy Motorized Blaster achieves this goal. This double-handed blaster also comes with 30 darts and a drum which can be loaded pre-battle to ensure you’ve got plenty of available ammo. Then, when ammo is running low, it’s easy to pick up darts and load them through the backport to minimize susceptibility during reloading. This blaster runs on four D-type batteries.
Buy: Infinus Nerf N-Strike Elite Toy Motorized Blaster
BEST CUSTOMIZABLE
The Nerf N-Strike Modulus ECS-10 Blaster is a good choice for fighters looking for a weapon they can customize to their needs. As the name Modulus suggests, this blaster features a number of modules that can be removed or added to create the blaster of your dreams. With over 30 possible combinations, you can truly achieve your own blaster style. Customizable elements include a targeting scope, a dual-rail barrel and a drop grip. The blaster is powered by four AA batteries and capable of reaching targets an impressive 90 feet away. Furthermore, this well-reviewed gun comes in simple brown packaging for a more environmentally-conscious approach.
Buy: Nerf N-Strike Modulus ECS-10 Blaster $49.99
BEST IN-GUN STORAGE
By offering an accurate, rapid and long-reaching shooting experience, there are few better Nerf options than the Nerf Ultra One Motorized Blaster. In addition to looking the part, this ergonomically designed gun will keep you comfortable during encounters. It comes with 25 ground-breaking Nerf Ultra darts which use an innovative design for improved accuracy and distance, reaching up to an impressive 120 feet. You’ll also find in-gun storage for spare darts or used ones you pick up on the battlefield as you go.
Buy: Nerf Ultra One Motorized Blaster $122.10
BEST COMPACT
While not quite the size of a standard pistol, compared to most of the other guns on our list, the Nerf N-Strike Elite Rayvenfire Motorized Rapid Fire Gun is compact. This relatively small size makes it more comfortable for one-handed use which keeps your second hand free for delivering silent instructions to fellow fighters or even holding a second weapon. It runs on four AA batteries and comes with a 10-dart clip and 25 darts.
Buy: 7. Nerf N-Strike Elite Rayvenfire Rapid Fire Gun $69.99
BEST RECHARGEABLE
The Nerf Rival Motorized Blaster is a great option for the environmentally conscious out there. Instead of requiring disposable batteries, you’ll find an included rechargeable battery and charger to prevent the need to throw batteries away. The blaster sits comfortably in two hands and boasts the ability to fire up to eight rounds per second at a velocity of up to 100 feet per second. The gun’s fifty-round capacity ensures you get a good amount of ammo for any skirmish, while the trigger’s lock helps prevent any accidental firing on the battlefield.
Buy: Nerf Rival Motorized Blaster $99.99
BEST REVOLVER-STYLE
The Nerf N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon is another intimidating blaster. Sporting a giant, 24-dart revolver and bright red design, you’ll be hard to miss when you step out with this gun in your hands. It’s supplied with 24 Mega Whistler darts which can be loaded straight into the revolver as you go. It also comes with a drum cage, drum covers, a handle and an over-the-shoulder strap for easier carrying. The motor is powered by six D-type batteries which are not included with the set.
Buy: Nerf N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon $107.85
MOST INTIMIDATING
Any enemy walking onto the battlefield to see the Nerf N-Strike Elite Rhino-Fire Blaster will instantly wish they’d worn their brown pants. This motorized, rapid-fire weapon uses two alternating 25-dart barrels to deliver an onslaught. The blaster comes with 50 Elite Darts to ensure you’re at capacity when the fighting begins. Furthermore, you’ll find a removable tripod that attaches to the blaster to provide extra stability and accuracy during use or a handy alternative to carrying this sizable device around.
COOLEST PICK
With a single, fully-motorized, 50-dart drum, the Nerf Elite Titan CS-50 Toy Blaster has everything you need to deliver a foam dart beat down on your competitors. The blaster includes 50 darts and an over-the-shoulder strap for a more comfortable experience during use. Perhaps best of all, the design includes a rotating barrel that looks like you just stepped out of a Terminator film and adds to your imposing backyard battlefield appearance. Additionally, you’ll find the trigger is top-mounted alongside the handle for added convenience and easier aiming of your weapon.
Buy: Nerf Elite Titan CS-50 Toy Blaster $200.00
BEST SPLURGE
The Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII-20K is the mother of all automatic Nerf weapons. It’s definitely needed if you’re looking to achieve some kind of Rambo-style obliteration of your backyard enemies. This large weapon sports an advanced acceleration system that allows it to fire up to eight rounds per second, giving the opposition no time to think. Inside the blaster, there’s a removable NiMH battery that can be recharged using the included wall charger. Ammo-wise, this impressive beast sports a hopper with a 200 Nerf Rival round capacity and a top-opening which allows for in-battle reloading. Additionally, you’ll find an over-the-shoulder strap to take some of the weight as well as blue and red ribbons for indicating which side you’re on.
Buy: Nerf Rival Prometheus MXVIII-20K $129.97
You never want to be the guy in the middle of a shootout who just ran out of ammo. The Nerf Modulus Regulator includes two clips, each of which holds 12. One clip attaches to the back of the blaster. Once one is spent, you can quickly swap out for a fresh one. This Nerf gun is a versatile option, too, because it lets you switch between burst fire, single shot, and automatic.
Buy: Nerf Modulus Regulator $59.12This Nerf blaster allows you to either fire single shots or do a slam-fire. It’s not exactly automatic, but it is rapid. The way it works is that you hold down the trigger and pull the pump-action back repeatedly, which will quickly shoot the darts.
Buy: Nerf Zombie Ripchain $69.99When zombies attack, survivors have to resort to all sorts of makeshift weapons, whether those are baseball bats, tire irons, or yes, nail guns. This nerf blaster is modeled after a nail gun, and features a semi-automatic design that indexes the next dart once you fire. It uses specialized darts, and each clip holds 8.
Buy: Nerf Zombie Nailbiter $19.99This is another semi-automatic option. It uses a motor to quickly load the next dart to keep you firing, and each clip holds six darts. The scope, combined with the 90-foot dart range, will make you the sharpest shooter on the field. It’s also customizable — you can remove the scope if you want.
Buy: Nerf Elite 2.0 $24.99This series is inspired by the weapons from Fortnite. This dart blaster features a motorized semi-automatic design that quickly loads the next dart, allowing you to quickly fire by pulling the trigger. The clip holds up to 10 darts.
Buy: Nerf Fortnite AR-L $46.85This motorized blaster pistol has a semi-automatic design that updates the classic handgun design. It allows you to quickly fire one bullet at a time without needing to pull a pump-action lever. The darts load from the back of the blaster for more rapid loading.
Buy: Nerf Ultra 2No one wants to mess with the guy who has a rocket launcher. This option from Nerf has a 2-in-1 design that features both a pump-action rocket launcher and a semi-automatic design that allows you quickly fire one dart after another.
Buy: Nerf Modulus Demolisher $49.99